College update

Lucas earns more conference honors

For the fourth time in five weeks, Western Kentucky University junior Jessica Lucas was named Conference USA Setter of the Week.

The two-time All-American from Seymour has now earned nine weekly laurels from CUSA in her career.

Lucas played a big role in helping WKU improve to 142 on the 2016 season and open league play 20 over the weekend.

The junior setter averaged 11.71 assists per set over the Lady Toppers’ weekend matches.

On Friday night, she had 46 assists to go along with five kills, six digs, five blocks and a service ace, as the Lady Toppers took down visiting Florida Atlantic in four sets.

Lucas helped WKU to a .284 team hitting percentage in the contest while hitting .308 on her own with 13 attacks.

Sunday’s sweep over Charlotte marked WKU’s 40th consecutive home conference win, a streak that dates back to the 2011 season.

In the victory, Lucas turned in another near triple-double effort with her stat line reading 36 assists, 14 digs, six kills, two service aces and a .429 attack percentage.

With Sunday’s double double against Charlotte, Lucas registered her seventh performance of the sort on the 2016 season. That mark ranks fourth in the league to date.

IU’s Barker snags second accolade

Indiana University Southeast senior Hannah Barker was named the River States Conference Setter of the Week for the second time this season.

Barker, of Seymour, helped lead the Grenadiers to wins in two matches last week. She tied a career high with 56 assists against Oakland City on Sept. 22.

She totaled 107 assists in a pair of matches last week. She averaged 1.0 kill, 10.7 assists and 1.8 digs per set last week, with an attack percentage of .304.

The Grenadiers picked up a pair of five-set wins over Asbury and Oakland City.

Barker had five kills, 51 assists, six digs and three aces in a five-set win over conference foe Asbury on Sept. 20. Barker followed that performance with five kills, 56 assists, and 12 digs against Oakland City.